Do you trust THE best?

Some of us limit God to Church and its four walls. We feel that God has very little to do with my studies, struggles, and career. So even after singing the best song and praying our hearts out, we trust in our own abilities to make it big in life.

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

My New Testament professor would often remind us of God as the orchestrator in the authorship of Scriptures. It helped me understand how God is involved in even the smallest details of my life. Most of us walk with the fear of not making it big in life. It is mostly because we are still trusting in our own abilities whereas God wants to lead us from strength to strength and victory to victory.

Let us be able to invite God even in the smallest decisions of our life. Someone said: “Fear God and then you have to fear none. “Let that be our story. Do you trust THE best?

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Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com

Gratitude as our attitude

It's easier said than done because many times we don't express this attitude of thankfulness externally. Thanking and showing gratitude has become a very common feature in our generation. So, are we doing it the way we should? Or is it just a namesake thanks?

Psalms 118: 1:- "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."

Psalms 118 starts and ends by thanking God. There is the emphasis on gratitude for the love of God. The psalmist is sure about what he is saying. It almost seems as if he is sharing his testimony. A story of redemption; of deliverance; of happiness; of hope; more than anything, a story of love. The overwhelming, never-ending love of God which covers everything. Each sentence is written marveling at this amazing love. Over here, they are thanking God for salvation amidst misery, for being their stronghold and the pillar of trust and refuge. This was particular to them.  The psalmist is sure about how, why and for what to thank God for.

Now, think about it in terms of our situation; about how much we are to thank God for each and every second of our lives. Often we go with the flow without acknowledging about how good He has been to us. Maybe they are left even unnoticed. The change should begin with us.

Today, let's reminisce our past and thank Daddy for His love that endures forever. Gratitude must not be a one day exercise, rather it must become our attitude.

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Ansu Susan Oommen

Ansu is a student of Delhi University and a youth leader in Crossway. She can be reached at ansususan9828@gmail.com

Let’s enjoy the journey

Ted W. Engstrom, in the book, The Pursuit of Excellence shares about a man who once made an investment in a large piece of ranch real estate which he hoped to enjoy during his years of retirement. While he was still active at his job, he would take one day off each week to go out to his land and work. But what a job! What he had bought, he soon realized, was several acres of weeds, gopher holes, and rundown buildings. It was anything but attractive, but he knew it had potential and he stuck with it.
Every week he'd go to his ranch, crank up his small tractor, and plow through the weeds with a vengeance. Then he'd spend time doing repairs on the buildings. He'd mix cement, cut lumber, replace broken windows, and work on the plumbing. It was hard work, but after several months the place began to take shape. And every time the man put his hand to some task, he would swell with pride. He knew his labor was finally paying off.
When the project was completed, the man received a neighborly visit from a farmer who lived a few miles down the road. Farmer Brown took a long look at the preacher and cast a longer eye over the revitalized property. Then he nodded his approval and said, "Well, friend, it looks like you and God really did some work here."
The man, wiping the sweat from his face, answered, "It's interesting you should say that, Mr. Brown. But I've got to tell you -- you should have seen this place when God had it all to Himself!"

Philippians 2: 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

We often don’t realize that God is always at work in our lives. We might be only concerned about the results and the final picture, But God enjoys the process, because that's where God is making us what we ought to become, and it just goes on. Let’s enjoy the journey.

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com

HE will not hold back

A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on "The Love of God." As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else to say.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The Love of God is such a deep and an amazing topic to ponder on the greatness of our God. At the end of it, one will simply realize that HE is so amazing that you and I can’t just comprehend it fully. But for sure we can understand HIM effectively. Bible reminds us that God the Father gave the best in the heaven for you and me. HE kept nothing for HIMSELF but gave JESUS that HE may die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin and we may attain a new life of abundance.

When HE has given us the best, will HE hold back any good things from us? Some of us are so low in confidence regarding the fact that I don't have this, I don't have that and I am really unfortunate to have missed out on so many things. But let us be encouraged by the powerful reminder that when HE has given us the best, HE will not hold back any good thing from us. HE will not hold back.   

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com